Models of Abnormality

chapter:2

Chapter Summary

This chapter examines the range of perspectives, known as models, whichhelp scientists explain and interpret observations. Today, several models are used to explain and treat abnormal functioning. This variety has resulted from shifts in values and beliefs over the past half-century, as well as improvements in clinical research. The leading models vary, and none of the models have proved to be consistently superior. Chapter 3 begins with the biological model and then delves into the four models that focus on the psychological and personal aspects of human functioning. The chapter concludes with the sociocultural model, which looks to social and cultural forces as the keys to human functioning.

Topic Overview

The Biological Model

How Do Biological Theorists Explain Abnormal Behavior?

Biological Treatments

Assessing the Biological Model

The Psychodynamic Model

How Did Freud Explain Normal and Abnormal Functioning?

How Do Other Psychodynamic Explanations Differ from Freud’s?

Psychodynamic Therapies

Assessing the Psychodynamic Model

The Behavioral Model

How Do Behaviorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?

Behavioral Therapies

Assessing the Behavioral Model

The Cognitive Model

How Do Cognitive Theorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?

Cognitive Therapies

Assessing the Cognitive Model

The Humanistic-Existential Model

Rogers’ Humanistic Theory and Therapy

Gestalt Theory and Therapy

Spiritual Views and Interventions

Existential Theories and Therapy

Assessing the Humanistic-Existential Model

The Sociocultural Model: The Family-Social and Multicultural Perspectives

How Do Family-Social Theorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?

Family-Social Treatments

How Do Multicultural Theorists Explain Abnormal Functioning?

Multicultural Treatments

Assessing the Sociocultural Model

Putting It Together: Integration of the Models

LECTURE OUTLINE

I. Models of Abnormality

A. In science, the perspectives used to explain events are known as models or paradigms

1. Each model spells out basic assumptions, gives order to the field under study, and sets guidelines for investigation

2. Models influence what investigators observe, the questions they ask, the information they seek, and how they interpret this information

B. Until recently, clinical scientists of a given time and place tended to agree on a single model of abnormality—a model greatly influenced by the beliefs of their cultures

C. Today, several models are used to explain and treat abnormal functioning; sometimes in conflict, each model focuses on one aspect of human functioning and no single model can explain all aspects of abnormality

II. The Biological Model
[Video: Nature Versus Nurture: Growing Up Apart; Personality and the Brain]

A. This model adopts a medical perspective

B. The main focus is that psychological abnormality is an illness brought about by malfunctioning parts of the organism—typically point to problems in brain anatomy or brain chemistry

C. How do biological theorists explain abnormal behavior?

1. The first area of examination is brain anatomy

A.The brain is composed of approximately 100 billion nerve cells (called neurons) and thousands of billions of support cells (called glia)

B.Within the brain, large groups of neurons form distinct areas called brain regions

C.Clinical researchers have discovered connections between certain psychological disorders and problems in specific brain areas; for example, Huntington’s disease and the basal ganglia and cortex

2. A second avenue of examination is brain chemistry

A.Information is communicated throughout the brain in the form of electrical impulses that travel from one neuron to one or more others

B.An impulse first is received at a neuron’s dendrites, travels down the axon, and is transmitted through the nerve endings to other neurons

C.Neurons don’t actually touch—they are separated by a space (the synapse) across which a message moves

D.When an electrical impulse reaches a nerve ending, the ending is stimulated to release a chemical (a neurotransmitter or “NT”) that travels across the synaptic space to receptors on the dendrites of neighboring neurons

(a)Some NTs tell receiving neurons to “fire”; other NTs tell receiving neurons to stop firing

(b)Researchers have identified dozens of NTs; for example, serotonin, dopamine, GABA

E.Studies indicate that abnormal activity in certain NTs can lead to specific mental disorders; for example, depression has been linked to low activity of serotonin and norepinephrine

F.In addition, researchers have learned that mental disorders are sometimes related to abnormal chemical activity in the endocrine system

(a)Endocrine glands release hormones that propel body organs into action

(b)Abnormal secretions have been linked to psychological disorders; for example, cortisol release is related to anxiety and mood disorders

3. A third area of investigation is genetic abnormalities

A.Abnormalities in brain anatomy or chemistry are sometimes the result of genetic inheritance

B.Each cell in the human body contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, each with numerous genes that control the characteristics and traits a person inherits

C.Studies suggest that inheritance plays a part in mood disorders, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders; it appears that in most cases, several genes combine to produce our actions and reactions

4. A fourth area of focus is on biological abnormalities passed on through evolution

A.Genes that contribute to mental disorders are viewed as unfortunate occurrences:

(a)Such genes may be mutations

(b)Such genes may be inherited after a mutation in the family line

(c)Such genes may be the result of normal evolutionary principles

B.Evolutionary theorists argue that human reactions and the genes responsible for them have survived over the course of time because they have helped individuals thrive and adapt; one example of this is the fear response

C.In today’s world, however, those genes and reactions may not be so adaptive

D.This model has been criticized and remains controversial, yet it receives considerable attention

5. The fifth avenue of research examines biological abnormalities as a result of viral infections

A.Viral infection provides another possible source of abnormal brain structure or biochemical dysfunction; for example, schizophrenia and prenatal viral exposure

B.The scientific interest in viral explanations of psychological disorders has been growing in the past decade; for example, anxiety and mood disorders

D. Biological treatments

1. Biological practitioners attempt to pinpoint the physical source of dysfunction to determine the course of treatment

2. There are three general types of biological treatment:

A.Drug therapy

(a)The 1950s heralded the advent of psychotropic medications and changed the fairly bleak outlook for a number of mental disorders, yet the revolution has produced some major problems

(b)Four groups:

(i)Antianxiety drugs (anxiolytics; minor tranquilizers)

(ii)Antidepressant drugs

(iii)Antibipolar drugs (mood stabilizers)

(iv)Antipsychotic drugs

B.Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

(a)Its use is indicated for severe depression, particularly when drugs and other therapies have failed

(b)This treatment is used on tens of thousands of depressed persons annually

C.Psychosurgery (or neurosurgery)

(a)Psychosurgery finds its historical roots in trephination

(b)The first lobotomy was performed in the 1930s

(c)The procedure now is much more precise than in the past, but it is considered experimental and used only in extreme cases

E. Assessing the biological model

1. Strengths of the model:

A.The biological model earns considerable respect in the field

B.It constantly produces valuable new information

C.Biological treatments often bring great relief

2. Weaknesses of the model:

A.The biological model can limit instead of enhance our understanding; it is criticized as being too simplistic

B.Biological treatments produce significant undesirable (negative) effects

III. The Psychodynamic Model
[Video: Carl Jung Talks About Freud, Life, and the Collective Unconscious; The Unconscious: Modern Views]or [Video: The Unconscious]

A. The psychodynamic model is the oldest and most famous psychological model

B. It is based on the belief that a person’s behavior (whether normal or abnormal) is determined largely by underlying dynamic—that is, interacting—psychological forces of which he or she is not aware; abnormal symptoms are the result of conflict among these forces

C. The father of psychodynamic theory and psychoanalytic therapy was Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)

D. How did Freud explain normal and abnormal functioning?

1. Freud argued that all behavior was caused by three unconscious forces:

A.The id, guided by the Pleasure Principle, comprises instinctual needs, drives, and impulses; it is sexual and fueled by libido (sexual energy)

B.The ego is governed by the Reality Principle; it seeks gratification but guides us to know when we can and can’t get and express our wishes

(a)Ego defense mechanisms protect us from anxiety

(b)These defenses include repression, denial, projection, rationalization, displacement, intellectualization, and regression

C.The superego is considered the moral center of the psyche and is guided by the morality principle; it is also called a “conscience” and unconsciously is adopted from our parents

2. According to Freud, these three parts of the personality are often in some degree of conflict

A.A healthy personality is one in which an effective working relationship, an acceptable compromise, has formed among the three forces

B.If the id, ego, and superego are in excessive conflict, the person’s behavior may show signs of dysfunction

3. Freud proposed that humans must negotiate five stages of psychosexual development in their journeys to adulthood

A.These stages include:

(a)Oral (0 to 18 months of age)

(b)Anal (18 months to 3 years of age)

(c)Phallic (3 to 5 years of age)

(d)Latent (5 to 12 years of age)

(e)Genital (12 years of age to adulthood)

B.Freud believed that at each stage of development, new events and pressures require adjustment in the id, ego, and superego

(a)If one is successful negotiating these stages, he or she will achieve personal growth

(b)If one is unsuccessful, fixation will occur at the developmental stage and will lead to psychological abnormality; because parents are the key environmental figures in early life, they often are seen as the cause of improper development

E. How do other psychodynamic explanations differ from Freud’s?

Although new theories depart from Freud’s ideas in important ways, each retains the belief that human functioning is shaped by dynamic (interacting) forces:

Ego theorists emphasize the role of the ego and consider it independent and more powerful than did Freud
Self theorists emphasize the unified personality over any one component
Object relations theorists emphasize the human need for (healthy) interpersonal relationships, especially between children and caregivers

F. Psychodynamic therapies

1. These therapies range from Freudian psychoanalysis to more modern therapies

2. All psychodynamic therapies seek to uncover past trauma and inner conflicts and believe that an understanding of early life experience is critically important

3. The therapist acts as a “subtle guide”

4. Psychodynamic therapists utilize various techniques, including:

A.Free association—A technique in which the patient describes any thought, feeling, or image that comes to mind, even if it seems unimportant or irrelevant

B.Therapist interpretation, including addressing issues such as:

(a)Resistance—An unconscious refusal to participate fully in therapy

(b)Transference—A process that occurs during therapy, in which patients act toward the therapist as they did or do toward important figures in their lives

(c)Dream interpretation—A process in which the therapist examines the manifest and latent content of a patient’s dream

C.Catharsis—The reliving of past repressed feelings in order to settle internal conflicts and overcome problems

D.Working through—The process of facing conflicts, reinterpreting feelings, and overcoming one’s problems

5. Contemporary psychodynamic therapists also may use short-term dynamic or relational psychoanalytic approaches to therapy instead of more traditional but longer/intense psychoanalysis

G. Assessing the psychodynamic model

1. Strengths of the model:

A.The psychodynamic model was the first to recognize the importance of psychological theories and treatment

B.This model described abnormal functioning as rooted in the same processes as normal functioning

C.Proponents of this model were the first to apply theory and techniques systematically to treatment, a practice that had a monumental impact on the field

2. Weaknesses of the model:

The ideas proposed by the model largely are unsupported and difficult or impossible to research; the model addresses components of functioning that are non-observable and inaccessible to human subjects (unconscious)

IV. The Behavioral Model
[Video: John Watson and Rosalie Rayner’s Little Albert Experiment, 1919]

A. Similar tothe psychoanalytic perspective, behaviorism also is deterministic, based on the idea that our actions are determined largely by our life experiences

B. The model concentrates wholly on behaviors and environmental factors

C. Behavioral theorists base their explanations and treatments on principles of learning, the process by which these behaviors change in response to the environment

D. The historical beginnings of behaviorism is in laboratories where conditioning studies were conducted

E. How do behaviorists explain abnormal functioning?

There are several forms of conditioning addressed by this model, all of which may produce normal or abnormal behavior:

Operant conditioning: according to this conditioning paradigm, humans and animals learn to behave in certain ways as a result of receiving rewards whenever they do so
Modeling: in a modeling paradigm, individuals learn responses simply by observing and repeating behavior
Classical conditioning

(a)Classical conditioning is learning by temporal association: when two events repeatedly occur close together in time, they become fused in a person’s mind and, before long, the person responds in the same way to both events

(b)The father of classical conditioning was Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1849–1936)

(i)In his classic study, Pavlov examined the effects of hearing a bell on a dog’s salivation response

(ii)Relevant components of the model are the unconditioned stimulus (US), the unconditioned response (UR), the conditioned stimulus (CS), and the conditioned response (CR); if, after conditioning, the CS repeatedly is presented alone, it will eventually stop eliciting the CR, a process called extinction

(c)This model explains many familiar behaviors (both normal and abnormal)

F. Behavioral therapies

1. The aim of behavioral therapy is to identify the behaviors that are causing problems and replace them with more appropriate ones

2. Behavioral therapists may use classical conditioning, operant conditioning, or modeling approaches; in this model, the therapist is a “teacher” instead of a “healer”

3. Classical conditioning treatments may be used to change abnormal reactions to particular stimuli; for example,step-by-step systematic desensitization for phobia

A.Learn relaxation skills

B.Construct a fear hierarchy

C.Confront feared situations (covertly or in vivo)

G. Strengths of this model:

1. This model has become a powerful force in the field

2. It can be tested in the laboratory; the behaviorists’ basic concepts can be observed and measured

3. There has been significant research support for behavioral therapies

H. Weaknesses of thismodel:

1. There is still no indisputable evidence that most people with psychological disorders are victims of improper conditioning

2. Behavioral therapies have limitations

3. This model has been criticized as being too simplistic; there is a new focus on self-efficacy and cognitive-behavioral theories

V. The Cognitive Model

[Video: Aaron Beck Uncovers]

A. This model proposes that we can best understand abnormal functioning by looking at cognitive processes—the center of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions; proponents of the model argue that clinicians must ask questions about assumptions, attitudes, and thoughts of a client

B. How do cognitive theorists explain abnormal functioning?

1. According to cognitive theorists, abnormal functioning can result from several kinds of cognitive problems

2. Theorists have identified several kinds of faulty thinking, including:

A.Faulty assumptions and attitudes

B.Illogical thinking processes; for example, overgeneralization

C. Cognitive therapies

1. According to cognitive therapists, people with psychological disorders can overcome their problems by developing new, more functional ways of thinking

2. The main therapy model is Aaron Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

A.The goal of this therapy is to help clients recognize and restructure their thinking

B.Therapists also guide clients to challenge their dysfunctional thoughts, try outnew interpretations, and apply new ways of thinking into their daily lives;this form of treatment is widely used in treating depression

D. Assessing the cognitive model

1. Strengths of this model:

a. This model has very broad appeal

b. It has been shown to be clinically useful and effective

(i)There is a demonstrated correlation between symptoms and maladaptive cognition

(ii)Therapies have been found effective in treating several disorders, especially depression

c. The focus of the model is on a uniquely human process

d. Treatments adapt well to technology

e. The model and treatment are research-based

2. Weaknesses of this model:

a. The precise role of cognition in abnormality has yet to be determined

b. Although it is effective for many disorders and clients, the model does not help everyone

c. Some changes may not be possible to achieve; in response, a new wave of therapies has emerged, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness-based techniques

VI. The Humanistic-Existential Model

A. Humanistic-Existential (H-E) models grouped together due to common focus on broader dimensions of the human experience (e.g., freedom of choice, self-awareness, etc.)

1. The humanist model emphasizes people as friendly, cooperative, and constructive; focus is on the drive to self-actualization through honest recognition of strengths and weaknesses

2. The existentialist model places an emphasis on self-determination, choice, and individual responsibility; focus is on authenticity

B. The primary theory and therapy associated with the humanistic component of the model is Rogers’ Humanistic Theory and Therapy

1. Rogers argued that there is a basic human need for unconditional positive regard

A.If this is received, it leads to unconditional self-regard

B.If this is not received, it leads to “conditions of worth”

(a)Example: “I only have worth if I earn straight As.”

(b)People who do not have unconditional self-regard are, according to Rogers, incapable of self-actualization because of internal distortion—they don’t know what they really need, etc.